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Jason Aaron’s Gorr Storyline Influenced Thor: Ragnarok

One of the more obvious sources of inspiration for Thor: Ragnarok comes from his legendary co-creator Jack Kirby. The film’s visual color palette and psychedelic, space-age story can all be traced back to Kirby’s’ visual contributions to the Thor mythos.

When director Taika Waititi was asked what other inspirations besides Kirby played a factor in Thor: Ragnarok, Waititi was quick to reference other comic book storylines like Planet Hulk, and characters such as the villain Gorr the God Butcher from writer Jason Aaron’s Thor: God of Thunder.

“It was really Planet Hulk and we pulled a little bit from God of Thunder and the Gorr runs,” the director told Collider. “I looked at all the stuff that I personally feel are the coolest in the comics. We should have that and we should have that and we should have that… But I think you can ruin things by staying too true [to comics]. With every comic run, there’s always a retelling. There are rebirths. There are alternate universes. This film is so crazy, so eclectic, and there are so many amazing characters – Hulk, Thor, Hela. Loki, Grand Master… It really is, to my mind, the craziest of the Marvel films – in a good way.”

Created by Aaron and Esad Ribic, Gorr the God Butcher debuted in Thor: God of Thunder #2. Gorr’s entire family was wiped out as a young child, and he grew up to not believe in any gods. Once he learned that deities did exist, he sought out the Necrosword and used it to gain vengeance against various pantheons for never answering his prayers. How directly this story influences Waititi’s Ragnarok remains to be seen.